January 2008

Harold Klaege, Salina, to lead 11-year-old state organization The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS) has its first executive director. The organization’s board of directors announced the appointment of Harold L. Klaege, effective this month. “KAWS owes a debt of gratitude to Tim Christian, who provided tremendous leadership as h ... Read More


Public invited to attend sessions at Memorial Hall, IndependenceThe Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will conduct a public meeting and hearing in Independence on January 10th. The public is invited to attend all sessions of the meeting, which will be conducted at Memorial Hall, Penn & Locust, Independence. The afternoon session will beg ... Read More


Project goal is to establish one of 10 free-ranging populations in Great PlainsDue largely to habitat destruction, only 18 black-footed ferrets existed in 1986, down from a population that once covered the entire Great Plains. Thanks to aggressive conservation and reintroduction efforts, today ferrets number well over 600. The latest reintroduc ... Read More


Events organized to educate participants about national symbolEach winter, bald eagles migrate into Kansas, providing bird watchers the chance to observe one of the nation's most spectacular birds. To improve opportunities to view the U.S. national symbol, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) -- in cooperation with the U.S. Fish a ... Read More


Counting backyard birds doubles the pleasure of winter activityEach January, Kansas bird watchers are asked to observe and record the number and species of birds visiting their backyard feeders. Participating Kansans are asked to observe their feeders two consecutive days during the period of Jan. 10-13, then report the results to the Kansas De ... Read More


Angler "guidebook" summarizes 2008 changes...and much more Printed copies of the 2008 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary booklet are now available at license vendors and offices of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.Anglers should be aware of several new regulations that took effect Jan. 1. The most welcome regulations shoul ... Read More


Kansas troops gain conservation awareness from Iraqi war zoneBAGHDAD -- The New Year brought new excitement for the Rangers of 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division -- often known as Ft. Riley's Big Red One -- as the home stretch of their 15-month deployment neared. Thanks to Kansas chapters of Pheasants For ... Read More


Hunting Heritage, Women In the Outdoors events to be honoredThe Annual Kansas State National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, Jan. 19, in Concordia. The banquet is an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of NWTF Hunting Heritage banquets and Women in the Outdoors events held during the 2007 calendar ... Read More


Regulations dealing with vehicles on state lands and deer management units heardThe Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission conducted a public meeting on Jan. 10 in Independence. During the public hearing portion of the meeting, commissioners heard three proposals to amend regulations.Parks Division director Jerry Hover presented the Commission wi ... Read More


Offices to reopen Jan. 22
All offices of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will be closed Monday, Jan. 21, in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Offices will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22.-30- Read More


Seven state organizations named recipients of fund-raising permitsSeven Kansas conservation organizations were awarded a 2008 Commission Big Game Permit in a drawing conducted at the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission meeting Jan. 10 in Independence. A total of 113 applications were submitted for the seven available permits.Winners of the per ... Read More


Great duck hunting still ahead; goose seasons extend into FebruaryJanuary may be cold, but many hunters believe it is the best time to hunt waterfowl. Late-migrating mallards often linger in Kansas at this time, and when shallow waters freeze, mallards concentrate on rivers and reservoirs. In much of the state, the Kansas Department of Wildlife ... Read More


Quail season ends Jan. 20, pheasant and prairie chicken seasons Jan. 31The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) reminds upland bird hunters that the last day of quail season is the third Sunday in January -- Jan. 20 this year. This does not, however, mean the end of upland bird hunting for year. Pheasant season remains open statewide ... Read More


Biologists will help anglers learn where the fish are and how to catch themWant to know where the really big fish are? Have a burning question about your favorite lake? Perhaps you have a question about a fishing regulation that you don't understand.For the answers to these and other questions, anglers in northeast Kansas should attend the Seco ... Read More


CWD contingency plan includes further samplingPRATT--Three white-tailed deer taken by hunters in Decatur County have tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Dr. Ruby Mosher, KDWP’s wildlife disease coordinator, said the initial screening tests performed by Kansas State Veter ... Read More


Feb. 6 meeting to provide information, answer questionsKansas Department of Wildlife and Parks officials will conduct a public meeting in Oberlin Feb. 6 to provide information and answer questions regarding the recent occurrence of chronic wasting disease in Decatur County. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at the Gateway Cent ... Read More


Regular season April 9-May 31; youth/disabled, archery seasons April 1-8The 2008 spring turkey season runs April 9-May 31, and hunters across the state are already making preparations. Turkey permits allow hunters to use either a shotgun or a bow, and this year, the archery-only and youth/disabled seasons run concurrently, April 1-8.Turkey perm ... Read More


Hunters, conservationists, and sport fans to rally behind favorite teams,raise money for quail habitat developmentThe Chisholm Trail Chapter of Quail Unlimited (QU), covering Dickinson and surrounding counties, is planning their first annual fundraiser to coincide with the NFL Super Bowl on Sunday, February 3. The event will take place at the ... Read More


Event to explore where trees belong in the Sunflower StateWhere do trees belong in Kansas? This topic, "Role of Trees in Kansas," is the theme of the first Kansas Natural Resources Conference (KNRC) to be held at the Airport Hilton in Wichita on Feb. 21-23."KNRC is being organized and sponsored by the Kansas chapters of six profe ... Read More


'8 Wonders of Kansas’ winners unveiled at Kansas Day celebrationThe votes have been counted, and two famous Kansas wetlands are now officially among the eight wonders of Kansas. More than 24,000 people voted in a contest sponsored by the Kansas Sampler Foundation, choosing eight winners from among 24 Kansas attractions nominated for the honor. ... Read More


Volunteers throughout the U.S. are invited to join February countMillions of novice and accomplished bird watchers can make their fascination with nature add up for science and for the future during the 11th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, led by Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. During “Presidents’ Day” weekend, February 15–18, any ... Read More


Entry deadline is April 1, 2008The Northern Association of Boating Administrators, in association with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, is offering a $1000 scholarship to students enrolled full-time in a two- or four-year college or university.Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and a declared major in a rec ... Read More


Kansas Wildlife Federation names 12 award recipientsThe Kansas Wildlife Federation, 57-year old grassroots organization of hunters, anglers and dedicated conservationists, has announced winners of the 2007 Conservation Achievement Program Awards. There are 12 distinguished recipients for awards for the past year.Leading the group, as winners of ... Read More